Rotary engine.



No. 865,117. PATBNTED SEPT. 3, 1907.

E. MUHL. ROTARY-ENGINE. Arrmouloli mum 0012a. 1906.

3 SHEETS-$HEET 1 11 TTOH'NEBS' www ERNST MUHL, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ROTARY ENGINE.

, Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 3, 1907.

Application filed October 8,1906. Serial No. 337,855.

A purpose of my invention is to provide a novel con-.

struction of parts of such an engine.

A further purpose of my invention is to secure ease of manipulation and uniformity of movement and control in engines of this character.

A further purpose of my invention is to simplify the engine reversing mechanism.

It further consists of other novel features of constructi on, all as will be hereinafter fully set forth.

Figure 1 represents a transverse section through the center of the cylinder of a construction embodying my invention in the position shown in line 11-v, Fig. 2. Fig. 2 represents a longitudinal vertical section of the same construction through the center of the engine. Fig. 3 represents a section on line xx, Fig. 2 in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 4 represents a section on line y-r Fig. 1. Fig. 5 represents a section on line zz, Fig. 1.. Fig. 6 represents an enlarged perspective view of a portion of one of the pistons which I employ.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the figures.

Referring to the drawings:l designates a base plate upon which are mounted supports 22 for bearings 33 constituting pillow blocks for the main shaft 4 enlarged at 4 and carrying the engine pulley 5. Upon the same base is supported a frame 6 to which are attached upon opposite sides plates 7 and 8 which combine with the upper and annular portion of the frame 6 to form a casing, inclosure or engine cylinder 9 within which rotates the cylinder 10 having adifferent center than that of the cylinder 9. It will be evident that both the cylinder 9 and the cylinder 10, while preferably of true circular cross sections may be varied therefrom without departing from the spirit of my invention, so long as the pistons hereinafter described would be guided by the inner cylinder within the space formed by the outer cylinder and follow the contour of the outer cylinder to provide-a rotary compartment for the steam.

The cylinder 10 is provided with a plurality of slots 11 whose walls 11 constitute guides, of which three are shown, for the purpose of supporting and forming a suitable steam tight connection for the pistons. The slots are formed within a corresponding number of arms or connections 13 which are stiffened by a central web 13. These arms and web support the outer surface 10 of the cylinder 10 from the hub 14 which is secured to the shaft 4 in any suitable manner, as by means of the key 16. The inner cylinder is completed by side plates 15 screwed or otherwise secured thereto.

Each of the pistons 12 is preferably formed with an interior recess 17 opening towards the shaft 4 and permits a spring 18 to press against the hub side of opening 11. These springs press outwardly upon the pistons to tend to maintain them inextended position. the springs 18 is guided and prevented from buckling or turning by means of a pin 19 secured on the hub 14 so that the space 17, spring 18 and pin 19 cooperate in the space 11 to secure a substantially uniform pressure upon the pistons.

The cylinder 10 at its ends extendswithin recesses 20 of plates 8 and 9, which arrangement along with the construction of the pistons makes possible close enough contact with the interior of the cylinder 9 during the rotation of the cylinder 10 to prevent leakage of steam past the cylinder 10 and pistons 12.

In order to prevent leakage of steam or other fluid past the point of contact between the outer limiting surfaces of the pistons 12 and the inner cylindrical surface 9 of the cylinder 9, I provide rollers 21 lying within the recesses 22, which rollers at the same time reduce the friction between the relatively moving parts. The space 22 is formed by cylindrical walls 23 preferably surrounding more than half of the roller so that said roller-must be inserted and withdrawn from the side. The roller is seen partially withdrawn in Fig. 6.

It will be evident that during the rotation of the cylinder 10 within the cylinder 9 the pistons 12 must advance and retract radially tokeep the rollers 21 in continuous contact with the inner surface 9 of the cylinder 9, as the latter lies throughout the rotation at variant distances from the outer surface 10 of the cylinder 10, and that correspondingly variant coinpartments or spaces are inclosed between the succeeding pistons and the two cylinders.

In order to admit steam or other fluid to the cylinder 10, I provide inlet ports 24 and 25, one or the other of which may be used, as hereinafter indicated, according to the direction in which rotation is desired, and I place these ports in proximity to the point of nearest approach of the outer surface 10 of the cylinder 10 and the inner surface 9 of the cylinder 9, in order that the steam or other fluid may be used expansively. I provide for exhaust of the steam or other fluid by means of the port 26 communicating with a chamber 27 from which exhaust pipe 28 leads to the atmosphere. I place the exhaust port preferably at a point opposite the point of nearest approach of the cylinders stated, being in the illustration the lowermost point in the cylinder 10 to make it equally advantageous for forward or reverse movement, without complication of valves, as I can then keep the exhaust port and pipe open to the atmosphere at all times. It will be evident that steam or other fluid admitted through the inlet port 24 will cause rotation of the cylinder 10 and consequently of the shaft 4 in Each of I the direction indicated upon the figures by the arrow,

- which I will call right-handed or forward movement,

and that the introduction of steam or other fluid through the port 25 will cause movement of the said cylinder and shaft in a reverse or left-handed direction contrary to that shown by the arrow, and it will be further evident that the steam will act expansively and will in either event exhaust through port 26 so that continuous movement of the shaft 4 will be obtained' and maintained.

In order to control the passages 24 and 25 and insure the introduction of steam through either, but one only at will, I provide a reversing wheel 29 carried upon the shaft 30 which is supported in the boss 1)]. and which is adapted to turn the gear 32 in either direction. Upon opposite sides of the gear 32, I place gears 33 and 34 controlling the shafts 35 and 36 upon which or to which are secured 'valves 37 and 38, which have their openings 39 and at right angles to each other. These valves 37 and 38 are placed within the ports 24 and 25 in such a manner that either of the openings 39 or 40 may be brought in line with the corresponding port, but, owing to their maintained relation at right angles to each other, they cannot both be opened at the same time. I preferably provide tapered valves at all points in order that the same may be readily tightened. The ports 24 and 25 communicate with a common port 41 outside of the valves 37 and 38, and steam or other fluid is introd uced to this common port whatever the direction of motion intended, reliance being had upon the two valves to control the direction of motion. The port 41 is connectedwith the port 42 which is controlled by the valve 43. The valve 43 is provided with a groove 44 about its circumference in line with the port 42 and inlet pipe 45. In the position shown in Fig. 1 this valve is closed but a slight operation in a right-handed direction will evidently open it and the point of gradual opening will occur at the edge of said valve in proximity to the port 42. The purpose of having the opening occur at this point is that the port 42 is ordinarily much smaller and more sharply defined than the-opening at 45 through which the initial steam supply is drawn and the extent of admission of steam can be more readily and easily controlled. The valve 43 is oscillatory and is oscillated by means of the shaft 46 and arm 47 which communicate with the rod 48 by means of the link 49. This rod 48 slideswithin the guides 48 on a projection 50,

preferably extending from one of the side plates, as 7, and said rod 48 terminates at its lower end in the head 51, having upwardly sloping surfaces 52 and 53 against which the pins 54 impinge during the rotation of theshaft 4. The pins 56 are supported Within the collar which is keyed to the shaft 4 by means of the set screw 56. The eXact timing and character of the oscillation of the rod 48 is of course dependent upon the shape of the head 51 and the number of oscillations is dependent upon the number of such pins 54, which number agrees with the number of the pistons 12.

For the purpose of admitting steam at any desired time independent of'the movement of theengine and of the location of the pins 54, I provide a lever 57 pivoted at 58 and having a nose 59 engaging with the lug 60 upon a collar (51, which is secured to the shaft 48. A keeper 42 retains the lever 57 in inoperative position, but when removed from this keeper the movement of the lever will evidently lift the rod 48 and open the valve 43.

It will be evident that various changes. may be made by those skilled in the art which will come within the scope of my invention, and I do not therefore desire to be limited in every instance to the exact construction herein shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device of the character described, a fixed cylinder, a movable cylinder eccentric thereto, pistons operating in the movable cylinder, an inlet port, a valve, a crank arm operating said valve, a rod connected with said crank arm, and a plurality of pins operating said rod with rotation of the movable cylinder.

2. In a device of the character described, fixed and mov able cylinders in eccentric relation, a valve controlling admission of steam thereto, a rod operating said valve, a pin engaging said rod, a lug upon the rod, a lever arm adapted to engage said lug, and means for maintaining the lever arm normally out of contact with said lug.

In a device of the character described, a general admission valve, a plurality of valves controlling forward and reverse passages therefrom, a hand lever, and means for moving the general admission valve by said hand lever.

4. Ina device of the character described, a fixed cylinder, a movable cylinder eccentric thereto, pistons operating the movable cylinder, an inlet port, a main valve, a crank arm operating said main valve, :1 rod connecting with said crank arm, a hand lever, and means upon said rod en gag-ed by the hand lever for operating the same.

ERNST M'L nn.

Witnesses W. 'l.. JACKSON, C. D. McVaY. 

